CrossRoad is a Polish four-piece Heavy/Doom Metal band. Their themes tend towards everything from personal struggles to medieval, covering a range of topics as diverse as their music. Following in the footsteps of doom legends like Pentagram, Trouble, and Black Sabbath, CrossRoad presents a collection of eight tracks that continue the tradition of heavy, doom-laden riffs and dark atmospheres. The album, including a cover of Mech, is a nod to the genre’s roots while showcasing the band’s unique take on doom metal. Take a journey through a sonic wonderland and travel through your mind as you take in everything this debut album has to offer.

https://crossroadoom.bandcamp.com/

Band Members:

  • Dave the Grave – Vocals/Guitars
  • Shutter – Guitars
  • Ausen – Bass
  • Weezle – Drums

Release Date:

January 13, 2024 – Nine Records

https://shop.nine-records.com/

Tracklist:

  1. Preparing The Stake (Intro)
  2. Torchfire Punishment
  3. Succubus
  4. Cross The Road
  5. Funeral Path
  6. The Hangman
  7. Piłem Z Diabłem Bruderszaft (Mech cover)
  8. Coven In The Moonlight

Polish Doom Metal is a unique thing. It seems to take influence from more than just regular Doom Metal, it becomes more. “Preparing The Stake” is a short intro that has a haunting tone that will pervade the rest of the album. There is an eerie feeling that runs through this whole record, giving the sense of being a score for a horror movie as much as an album. There is something about the general tone of dread that evokes visions from within the brain.

The vocals have an echoing quality that makes them sound far away, yet almost like a voice in the back of your mind. The vocal quality amplifies the haunted tone of the compositions. Everything is dark and ambient, including some of the lyrics. When you sing about things like “Funeral Path” and “The Hangman,” you are not trying to bring happiness and joy to bear. These tracks each feel like little clips that need their own video, something to help express the feel of the song.

There are often albums that strike me in this manner and Funeral Path is one of those. There is a draw to the music that makes me wonder how I would see it visualized. I’m not a videographer and would never claim to know what is best, but I do sometimes picture a song in my head and wonder if the band feels the same as I do. I like music that makes me explore more, and question how it makes me think and feel. CrossRoad does that on this album. This one is definitely worth hearing a few times just to see if you think the same as I do. What does this inspire in your mind?

MZ Ratings:

Musicianship:

  •             Guitars – 8
  •             Rhythms – 8
  •             Vocals – 8
  • Songwriting – 8
  • Production – 8

Overall – 8.00